The purposes of this study were to determine if petite women have a
positive or negative body cathexis, to see if petite women perceive themselves
as having garment fit and style proportion problems, and to explore the
relationships between these variables and selected demographic information.

The sample was made up of 132 Spiegel catalog shoppers. The sample
ranged in height from 4'9" to 5'6" with 670/0 being 5'2" and under. Results for
the 5'2" and under were looked at separately.

The total sample was satisfied with all the body cathexis variables except
for thighs and stomach. The 5'2" and under petites were satisfied with all the
variables except four, leg length, hips, stomach, and height.
Most of the fit problems were associated with length. The majority of the
sample 5'2" and under reported available clothing too long in the sleeves,
skirts, pants, and crotch depth.

Most of the style proportion problems reported in this research were
associated with the length of garments and garment components. The
miscellaneous items that created the most problems for this sample were
pocket location and dart location. These problems were more predominate for
the 5'2" and under sample. Over 50% of 5'2" and under sample reported
problems with lengths and pocket location. And at least 25% of them reported
problems in 22 other areas.

There did not appear to be any relationship between the perceived
garment fit variables and style proportion problems and the body cathexis
variables, nor between the demographics and the perceived garment fit and the
style proportion problems

The majority of the sample shopped at mail order stores (catalogs) and
department stores. The department most often shopped was the petite
department. The majority of the women had their ready-to-wear clothing altered
to achieve a better fit and solve their style proportion problems. The majority
(74%) was not satisfied with the current petite clothing available.

The most conclusive data in this study pertained to the implication of
problems with dart location and pocket placement. The garment proportion in
relation to darts and pocket placement were inappropriate for some of these
petite subjects.